Lake District airport to open for passenger flights for first time in 25 years

Flights are to launch between London and the Lake District's Carlisle airport for the first time in 25 years, according to its owner.

Commercial and business passenger flights will begin from Carlisle Lake District Airport on June 4, connecting it to hubs such as London, Belfast and Dublin.

The Cumbria airport has not been linked by commercial services since 1993. It is not yet clear which airline will operate the routes or how frequent the services will be.

The airport is being developed with the help of a £4.95 million investment from the Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership.

The Stobart Group, which bought the 150-year lease on the airport in May 2009, also owns Southend Airport.

The Lake District currently receives about 41.5 million visitors a year, most of whom use rail links or cars to get around.

Kate Willard, head of corporate projects at Stobart Group, said the company hopes "to attract new visitors to Cumbria and the surrounding area and... support the local economy" by developing a "sustainable and really fantastic" airport.

Graham Haywood, executive director of the Cumbria LEP, said that as well as increasing tourism to the region, the airport development would open up more commercial industry opportunities, especially logistics, nuclear and advanced manufacturing.

“Improving key transport infrastructure facilities like the airport helps boost economic growth and can act as a catalyst for creating new business hubs and attracting private sector investment," he said.